CSG to Light Up Every Household Along the Lancang-Mekong River
Technological Assistance & Training for Other Countries

Vientiane, Laos - Bunching Sinthavong, Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport, and Lattanamany Khounnyvong, Vice Minister of Public Works and Transport, went on a recent inspection tour of the Vientiane Station of the sixth section of China-Laos Railway constructed by China Railway Erju Group Corporation (CREGC).
In order to ensure the successful opening of the China-Laos Railway by the close of 2021, both China and Laos are sparing no efforts to realize the development strategy of Laos to transform itself from a “land-locked country” to a “land-linked country”.
The China-Laos Railway Project has progressed through nine years of changes to reach this crest of an exciting new future thanks to the deep cooperation and partnership of the important Lancang-Mekong River project.
“On behalf of EDL, I feel quite grateful for the technical support and training provided by CSG,” said BounOme, Director of the Transmission Line and Substation Monitoring Department of the Électricité du Laos (EDL).
Starting in 2018, China Southern Power Grid senior managers tailored three periods of training for them, which are undertaken by Yunnan International Co., Ltd. (YNIC) and the Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., in response to EDL technical staff’s  needs for a stable power grid system and relay protection.
Technical support and training are key elements of CSG’s “extended services” to EDL.
On November 30, 2015, the 230-kV power grid project in Northern Laos undertaken by YNIC was placed into online operation, significantly changing Laos’ power grid structure. To ensure Lao’s safe and stable power grid, CSG has handed over two research reports to the Lao side after nearly two years of field survey and technical analysis.
This has ushered in a new era of technical support and cooperative exchanges between China and Laos. CSG has provided technological assistance to and shared in the fruits of development with not only Laos, but also other neighboring countries.
Five training sessions of power equipment operation have been completed in Cambodian Electric Power Institute.
These many exchanges have delivered exciting results thus far in 2019.
On January 14, 2019, the Opening Ceremony of the first training session of the Lancang-Mekong Power Connectivity and Cooperation Project was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, guided by the National Energy Administration (NEA) and co-organized by China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute (CPPEI) and CSG.
More than 30 representatives from national energy administrations, power companies and international organizations in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia took part in the training.
Guo Zhi, chief economist of the National Energy Administration, attended the ceremony and delivered his remarks.
As the earliest power company entering the Lancang-Mekong River region for development and construction, China Southern Power Grid grasps the key underpinnings that the trading of power commodities is different from that of ordinary ones, for grid connectivity serves as the cornerstone of optimizing the allocation of power resources.
On September 25, 2004, the 110-kV Hekou-Lao Cai transmission line was placed into operation, which served as a prelude to grid connectivity and communication between CSG and neighboring countries.
During the next 15 years, CSG has achieved 110-kV or more grid connectivity with Laos and Myanmar. There are currently nine transmission lines of 110 kV or more connected to grids in Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.
With the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more neighboring countries are willing to promote grid connectivity with China.
Regarding it as an important measure to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, the NEA has listed CSG’s grid-connected projects as key projects, based on President Xi Jinping’s calls during his visit to Yunnan, the province has proposed to build a regional international energy hub and issue favorable policies for regional cooperation.
The CSG Yunnan International Co., Ltd., (YNIC) sells electricity to Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, and purchases power from Shweli (I) Hydropower Station and Dapein (I) Hydropower Station in Myanmar. Since YNIC started cross-border power trading in 2004, as of March 31 of this year, total cross-border trade volume has reached 54.79 billion kWh, indicating a significant increase for two consecutive years.
Since 2016, YNIC has explored the use of market-based trading mechanisms for cross-border power trading. Currently, 100% of imported and exported electricity has been obtained through market-based trading.
These measures will shed new light on optimal allocation of power resources with neighboring countries.